Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood
Also called: Automatic Bandsaw Tender, Automatic Edger, Automatic Log Cut-Off Sawyer, Backup Sawyer, Band Saw Operator, Band Saw Runner, Band Sawyer, Band Scroll Saw Operator
Set up, operate, or tend wood sawing machines.
What sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood do
Typical tasks
- Inspect and measure workpieces to mark for cuts and to verify the accuracy of cuts, using rulers, squares, or caliper rules.
- Adjust saw blades, using wrenches and rulers, or by turning handwheels or pressing pedals, levers, or panel buttons.
- Mount and bolt sawing blades or attachments to machine shafts.
- Set up, operate, or tend saws or machines that cut or trim wood to specified dimensions, such as circular saws, band saws, multiple-blade sawing machines, scroll saws, ripsaws, or crozer machines.
- Inspect stock for imperfections or to estimate grades or qualities of stock or workpieces.
- Monitor sawing machines, adjusting speed and tension and clearing jams to ensure proper operation.
- Sharpen blades, or replace defective or worn blades or bands, using hand tools.
- Guide workpieces against saws, saw over workpieces by hand, or operate automatic feeding devices to guide cuts.
- Clear machine jams, using hand tools.
- Lubricate or clean machines, using wrenches, grease guns, or solvents.
- Adjust bolts, clamps, stops, guides, or table angles or heights, using hand tools.
- Examine logs or lumber to plan the best cuts.
Typical path into the job (BLS)
Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood salary
The median annual wage for sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood is $42,770 (BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, national). The lowest 10 percent earn less than $30,890 and the highest 10 percent earn more than $58,170. The mean annual wage is $43,580.
The mean hourly wage of $20.00 is 2.8× the federal minimum wage of $7.25. State minimums are higher in most large states. Minimum wage by state →
How does your pay compare with people your age?
Your numbers are not sent or stored. The comparison uses this occupation's BLS wage percentiles, adjusted for age with BLS median weekly earnings by age group (Q3 2026).
Pay by percentile
Annual wage percentiles from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Percentiles are a good proxy for pay by experience.
Projected pay for Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today $42,770 → in 3 years $46,500 → in 5 years $49,300 → in 10 years $56,700 (10-year range $48,800–$65,800). The model assumes pay growth of +2.9% per year.
What drives the annual growth rate
Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →
Outlook score for Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood
Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.
Will AI replace Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood? AI replacement risk
How AI is changing this job
A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.
AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using O*NET work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →
Labor demand for Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood
Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.
The same job in Japan
| Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood United States | 木材製造 Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Median / average pay | $42,770 | ¥4.34M ≈ $27,611 |
| Pay in 10 years (est.) | $56,700 | ¥5.59M |
| Outlook score | 40 | 52 |
| AI replacement risk | 35% Low | 47% Moderate |
| Workers | 41K | — |
Matched by occupation (SOC code). Yen converted at 157.25 JPY/USD for reference; Japanese figures are averages, U.S. figures are medians, and the surveys define occupations differently.
Skills, education and requirements for Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood
Key skills
O*NET skill level ratings (0–7).
Key knowledge areas
What the work involves
Important abilities
Education of workers
Training before entry
Related work experience
Job Zone 2 — some preparation needed (O*NET)
Difficulty of entry: ★☆☆☆☆ Easy to enter (from education, training, experience and Job Zone)
How to become sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood
A step-by-step guide for this occupation is being prepared. The education, training and experience data above show the typical path.
Career path and how to earn more as sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by percentile is shown in the Pay section.